LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine lacrosse team improved to 3-0 at home this season by taking care of visiting Saint Joseph's, 12-9, at a soggy Owsley B. Frazier Stadium. The Knights (3-1) jumped out to a big 6-0 lead, then hung on to keep the Hawks (0-4) winless this season.

Sophomore Andrew Wolford (Columbus, Ohio) turned in his best collegiate effort, notching three goals and adding an assist. He had never scored a goal as a Knight before today, but finished with a hat trick.

Sophomore attack Shane Andersen (Denver, Colo.) added a pair of goals, both coming late in the third period, and assisted on another score. Senior Adam Gardner (Toronto, Ontario), who became the program's all-time goal leader on Saturday against Robert Morris, tallied two more goals today.

Geoff Griffiths (Markham, Ontario) tied a school record by scooping up 10 groundballs.

Junior net-minder David Haas (Novi, Mich.) also turned in a solid effort in the cage, saving 10 shots. He was particular strong in the third period. After the Hawks cut the lead to 7-4 at the half, Haas turned away five shots in third quarter, as Bellarmine built their lead back up to six, 10-4, midway through the stanza.

Bellarmine's tenth goal came after Andersen curled around from the x-behind spot with just under six minutes left in the period to deposit an unassisted goal. Saint Joseph's countered with a score off the ensuing faceoff, but Andersen scored his second goal in nearly identical fashion as his first just moments later to put the Knights ahead 11-5 heading into the fourth period.

Saint Joseph's out-scored Bellarmine 4-1 in the final period, but their late rally was not enough to overcome the early deficit.

Bellarmine killed all four of their penalties while out-hustling Saint Joseph's on groundballs, 31-17.

Steve Varga had four goals and Dean Bellos had three for the Hawks.

Bellarmine will now take their three-game winning streak on the road, where they will face Manhattan on a neutral field at DeSmet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, Mo. on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

2008-03-04